The August Comics, Part 2 [Spoilers]

Hawkgirl

It's official, this book is off the list. (We might still be getting another issue due to the order-early thing, but are not ordering any more.) I don't enjoy it. The eleven-year-old (you know, the Hawkgirlfan, the reason we ordered it in the first place) doesn't enjoy it. Dull story, unappealing art. (I really only like Chaykin in very specific applications, and apparently this isn't one of them--and the eleven-year-old commented specifically about not caring for the art.) We may give it another try somewhere down the road, if there is a change in the creative team, but until then there's no point in reading something that's so not fun.


Ion #5/12

Well, it's holding my interest. It helps that there's some earthbound action in addition to the space opera (my tolerance for cosmic is limited). I'm enjoying the characterization of Hal Jordan here (looking forward to the new main GL title now, actually), less so that of Kyle, who I've generally found to be fairly interesting up until now. But this book was never in danger of being cut, still more to like than not. I'm just not sure that I'm going to like Kyle as Ion as much as I liked him as Green Lantern.


Iron Man #11

Okay, Tony as a blond is still really weird. Memorable--Iron Man defeating the Sentry by playing directly on his weakness. It seems cruel, but it's effective, and apparently IM hadn't really given it a lot of thought (the "how" of bringing down a teammate) or he'd have done it sooner. Yes, I do want to see what happens next, although there's only one story in this arc and I'm not sure whether the next will have a Civil War focus or not. I've always liked Iron Man, conceptually, although certainly over the years the execution has been variable. Right now, quality is decent. I'm hoping that continues.


Justice League of America #1

All right, first of all, what I know about the Justice League comes from three sources: first, the recent cartoon series (never did watch Superfriends, our antenna didn't get that network when I was a kid); second, the JLA series from the late '90s/early '00s (which I've read in TPB form and have discussed here earlier, and which is the source of most of my expectations); and third, some of the Justice League International TPBs, which are damn funny but maybe don't provide the best cues for what the JLA is. Oh yes, and that Year One series, which I borrowed from my brother not long ago. :)

So, so far I like it. No clue who the Red Tornado is, but he was well introduced here. Enjoyed the discussion among Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman about who should get to be on the team; however, honestly, I really prefer the other idea that it was the other heroes that started the group--yes, Supes, Bats and WW are the most iconic characters, but making them somehow indispensable really weakens the notion of the group itself, I think.


Martian Manhunter #1

I wanted to like this book. I like J'Onn, or have in the past (although I'll admit that I've only ever seen him in JLA.). So far the characterization doesn't grab me, although I kind of like the less-human-than-usual way J'Onn is drawn (as often, his appearance reflects his state of mind). I am, however, interested in seeing what happens next, so will probably (although not certainly) continue with this series.